Brexit: UK lawmakers support moving Article 50 legislation to next stage

British lawmakers approved on Wednesday legislation seeking parliament’s approval for the start of formal divorce talks with the European Union, allowing it to progress to the next parliamentary stage.

British lawmakers approved on Wednesday legislation seeking parliament’s approval for the start of formal divorce talks with the European Union, allowing it to progress to the next parliamentary stage.

A video grab taken from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) in the House of Commons in London. (AFP Photo)

The legislation, which will give Prime Minister Theresa May the right to trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, was supported by 498 votes to 114 after two days of debate in parliament’s House of Commons.

It will begin the next, more detailed, legislative stage in the House of Commons on Feb. 6.